• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.513-516
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• 2014

We report a case of cervicomedullary compression by an anomalous vertebral artery treated using microsurgical decompression with intraoperative monitoring. A 68-year-old woman presented with posterior neck pain and gait disturbance. MRI revealed multiple abnormalities, including an anomalous vertebral artery that compressed the spinal cord at the cervicomedullary junction. Suboccipital craniectomy with C1 laminectomy was performed. The spinal cord was found to be compressed by the vertebral arteries, which were retracted dorsolaterally. At that time, the somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) changed. After release of the vertebral artery, the SSEP signal normalized instantly. The vertebral artery was then lifted gently and anchored to the dura. There was no other procedural complication. The patient's symptoms improved. This case demonstrates that intraoperative monitoring may be useful for preventing procedural complications during spinal cord microsurgical decompression.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.635-639
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• 2000

Objective : Surgery for the microvascular decompression is mostly concerned with injury to the cranial nerves or brain stem by cerebellar retraction. Intraopeartive brain stem auditory evoked potentials(BAEPs) has been continuously monitored on surgery to evaluate the extent of injury, recovery of the nerves and prognosis. Methods : Of the 161 cases of CP angle surgery from Feb. 1996 to Apr. 1998, 103 cases were monitored during operation. Thirty five patients who had undergone similar surgery were selected and evaluated ; 23 patients were monitored and 12 were not during surgery. If monitor showed more than 0.5 mSec delay of latency, surgeon was given a warning not to retract brain any more. If more than 1mSec delay, surgeon was informed to stop surgery and wait for the returning of evoked potentials. The level of amplitudes and delay of latencies during the initial stage of operation, opening the dura, insertion of teflon patches, and closing the dura and recovery were then compared. Resuls : Twenty patients were male and 15 were female. Their average age was 50.26 years. Mean amplitude during the initial stage of operation was $0.60{\pm}0.25mV$, at opening the dura $0.56{\pm}0.26$, after teflon patches insertion $0.49{\pm}0.20$, and after closure of dura $0.47{\pm}0.28mV$. Mean latency during the early stage of operation was $6.08{\pm}0.67mSec$, at opening of dura $6.38{\pm}0.55$, insertion of teflon $6.97{\pm}0.59$, and closing the dura $6.17{\pm}0.54$. There was statistical significance in the difference of amplitudes between each procedures, and in the difference of latencies. For the complete recovery of amplitude and latency, it usually took average 5.65 minutes(0-20 min). In monitored group, only one patient required more than 20 minutes to recover and suffered from hearing disturbance after surgery. Others were recovered within 10 minutes without complications. However, 4 out of 12 patients who were not monitored showed hearing disturbance, and 1 patient had temporary facial palsy and dizziness(p＝0.000). Conclusion : The results indicate that continuous intraoperative monitoring of BAEPs during CP angle surgery is seen mandatory procedure to prevent operative complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.966-974
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• 2021

Objective : To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of microvascular decompression (MVD) combined with internal neurolysis (IN) in the treatment of recurrent trigeminal neuralgia (TN) after MVD. Methods : Sixty-four patients with recurrent TN admitted to the hospital from January 2014 to December 2017 were divided into two groups according to the surgical method. Twenty-nine patients, admitted from January 2014 to December 2015, were treated with MVD alone, whereas 35 admitted from January 2016 to December 2017 were treated with MVD+IN. The postoperative efficacy, complications, and pain recurrence rate of the two groups were analyzed. Results : The efficacy of the MVD+IN and MVD groups were 88.6% and 86.2%, and the cure rates were 77.1% and 65.5% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). The cure rate (83.3%) of patients in the MVD+IN group, who were only found thickened arachnoid adhesions during the operation that could not be fully released, was significantly higher than that of the MVD group (30.0%) (p<0.05), while the efficacy (91.7% vs. 70%) of the two groups was not statistically different (p>0.05). For patients whose arachnoid adhesions were completely released, there had no significant difference (p>0.05) in the efficacy (87% vs. 94.7%) and recurrence rate (5.0% vs. 11.1%). The incidence of postoperative facial numbness (88.6%) in the MVD+IN group was higher than that in the MVD group (10.3%) (p<0.01). The long-term incidence of facial numbness was not statistically significant (p>0.05). In the 18-36 months follow-up, the recurrence rate of patients in the MVD+IN group (9.7%) and in the MVD group (16%) were not statistically different (p>0.05). Conclusion : A retrospective comparison of patients with recurrent TN showed that both MVD and MVD combined with IN can effectively treat recurrent TN. Compared with MVD alone, MVD combined with IN can effectively improve the pain cure rate of patients with recurrent TN who have only severe arachnoid adhesions. The combination does not increase the incidence of long-term facial numbness and other complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.477-479
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• 2010

A case of delayed progressive extradural pneumatocele after microvascular decompression (MVD) is presented. A 60-year-old male underwent MVD for hemifacial spasm; the mastoid air cell was opened and sealed with bone wax during surgery. One month after surgery, the patient complained of tinnitus, and progressive extradural pneumatoceles without cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage was observed. Revision surgery was performed and the opened mastoid air cell was completely sealed with muscle patch and glue. The patient's symptoms were resolved, with no recurrence of pneumatoceles at 6 month follow up. Progressive extradural pneumatocele without CSF leakage after posterior fossa surgery is a very rare complication. Previous reports and surgical management of this rare complication are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.615-621
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• 2022

Various treatments for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) are known to yield initial satisfactory results; however, the surgical treatment has excellent long-term outcomes and a low recurrence rate. Surgical treatment addresses the challenge of vascular compression, which accounts for 85% of the causes of TN. As for surgical treatment for TN, microvascular decompression (MVD) has become the surgical treatment of choice after Peter J. Jannetta reported the results of MVD surgery in 1996. Since then, many studies have reported a success rate of over 90% for the initial surgical treatment. Most MVDs aim to separate (decompress) the culprit vessel from the trigeminal nerve. To increase the success rate of surgery, accurate indications for MVD and management of the offender vessels without complications are critical. In addition, if there is no vascular compression, partial sensory rhizotomy or internal neurolysis can be performed to improve surgical outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.117-127
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• 2014

Purpose: In order to provide a systematic and standardized treatment course for MVD patients, a critical pathway (CP) program was developed and the results of its long term application were analyzed. Methods: This was a methodological study. The CP was established and applied to 75 (step I) and 1,216 (step II). Another group of 56 with similar features was used as a control group. Results: The application of CP turned out to be useful in many regards: the rate of hearing loss was reduced from 1.8% to 0% (step I) and 0.5% (step II), and low cranial nerve palsy was reduced from 1.8% to 1.3% and 0.7%, respectively. The length of hospitalization decreased by 2.56 days (25.2%) for step I and 3.05 days (30.0%) for step II. Days of ICU stay were reduced by 7.9% and 1.8%. The total cost per patient was reduced by 14.8% (step I). The cost per day was increased by 13.7% and 52.4%. An increase in the patient satisfaction index was noted, as shown in the ICU information guide (p=.002). Conclusion: The development and application of CP was found to improve the quality of medical treatment and the efficacy of hospital management in MVD patients. Well organized and efficient system and multidisciplinary teamwork are the key component of the successful application of CP.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.262-268
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• 2016

Hemifacial spasm is a disease caused by involuntary facial muscles with repeated unilateral convulsive spasms. It involves contraction of multiple muscles at the same time (synkinesia). The pathogenesis appears to be the pressure on the vessel by the facial nerve. This study included hemifacial spasm patients, who received microvascular decompression surgery. Brainstem auditory evoked potential and the examination time were carefully noted when using brain surgical retractor. The facial nerve electromyography tests for the identification of artifacts and EMG waveform when the facial nerve damage, about the importance of the maintenance of anesthesia in the lateral spread response and in a somatosensory evoked potential propose a new method. Based on the above test, it will be more effective.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.186-193
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• 2001

Objectives : Trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm are caused by vascular compression of the REZ(root entry or exit zone) of the 5th and the 7th cranial nerve. Preoperative detection of neurovascular compression is essential for accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and the good operative results. Three dimensional Fourier Transformation-Constructive Interference in Steady State(3DFT-CISS) images are known to give good contrast between CSF, nerve, and vessels. We applied a 3DFT-CISS imaging technique for the preoperative evaluation of patients with these diseases and estimated the diagnostic accuracy and usefulness of this study. Methods : A series of 71 patients with trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm were treated by microvascular decompression. Among them 34 patients with trigeminal neuralgia and 24 patients with hemifacial spasm had preoperative CISS images. We compared the radiologic finding with the operative finding, and analysed the diagnostic usefulness of 3DFT-CISS imaging. Results : The sensitivity of CISS images of detecting the neurovascular compression was 90.3% in trigeminal neuralgia and 100% in hemifacial spasm. There were one false-positive and three false-negative cases in trigeminal neuralgia, and one false-positive case in hemifacial spasm. The accuracy in diagnosing the causative vessel was 73.5% in trigeminal neuralgia and 83.3% in hemifacial spasm. Conclusion : CISS image is very useful diagnostic tool for preoperative evaluation of neurovascular compression in patients with trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. No additional neuroradiologic examination other than CISS image and MRA is needed for preoperative evaluation of patients with trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.59-61
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• 2012

Although the mechanism of hemifacial spasm (HFS) is not yet well established, vascular compression of the facial nerve root exit zone and hyperexcitability of the facial nucleus have been suggested. We report a case of HFS in the setting of coinciding intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) of the pons and proximal ligation of the contralateral vertebral artery (VA) for the treatment of a fusiform aneurysm of the distal VA and discuss the possible etiologies of HFS in this patient. A 51-year-old male with an ICH of the pons was admitted to our hospital. Neuroimaging studies revealed an incidental fusiform aneurysm of the right VA distal to the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Eight months after proximal ligation of the VA the patient presented with intermittent spasm of the left side of his face. Pre- and post-ligation magnetic resonance angiography revealed an enlarged diameter of the VA. The spasm completely disappeared after microvascular decompression.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2008

Objective : Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is considered as a reversible pathophysiological condition mainly induced by continuous vascular compression of the facial nerve root exit zone (REZ) at the cerebellopontine angle. As an offending vessel, vertebrobasilar artery tends to compress much more heavily than others. The authors analyzed HFS caused by vertebrobasilar artery and described the relationships between microsurgical findings and clinical courses. Methods : Out of 1,798 cases treated with microvascular decompression (MVD) from Jan. 1980 to Dec. 2004. the causative vessels were either vertebral artery or basilar artery in 87 patients. Seventy-nine patients were enrolled in this study. Preoperatively, computed tomography (CT) or brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with 3-dimentional short range MR technique was performed and CT was checked immediately or 2-3 days after anesthetic recovery. The authors retrospectively analyzed the clinical features. the compression patterns of the vessels at the time of surgery and treatment outcomes. Results : There were 47 were male and 32 female patients. HFS developed on the left side in 52 cases and on the right side in 27. The mean age of onset was 52.3 years (range 19-60) and the mean duration of symptoms was 10.7 years. Many patients (39 cases; 49.1%) had past history of hypertension. HFS caused only by the vertebral artery was 8 cases although most of the other cases were caused by vertebral artery (VA) in combination with its branching arteries. Most frequently, the VA and the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) were the simultaneous causative blood vessels comprising 32 cases (40.5%). and in 27 cases (34.2 %) the VA and the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) were the offenders. Facial symptoms disappeared in 61 cases (77.2%) immediately after the operation and 68 cases (86.1%) showed good outcome after 6 months. Surgical outcome just after the operation was poor in whom the perforators arose from the offending vessels concurrently (p<0.05). Conclusion : In case where the vertebral artery is a cause of HFS, commonly branching arteries associated with main arterial compression on facial REZ requires more definite treatment for proper decompression because of its relatively poor results compared to the condition caused by other vascular compressive origins.